Laterally movable doors for railway freight cars



June 26, 1962 w. A. BEAUCHAMP 3,040,392

LATERALLY MOVABLE DOORS FOR RAILWAY FREIGHT CARS Filed May 28, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fl-INVENTOE' W/L FEED 7. BEQUCHGMP June 26, 1962 w. A. BEAUCHAMP 3,040,392

LATERALLY MOVABLE DOORS FOR RAILWAY FREIGHT CARS J1me 1962 w. A. BEAUCHAMP 3,040,392

LATERALLY MOVABLE DOORS FOR RAILWAY FREIGHT CARS Filed May 28, 1959 4- Sheets-Sheet 3 :0 ioz w as a 51 5 1" 74 e7 4! 1, I2 I .u 1 II I 5e o 65 55 Ill \07 I05 1 9 "-/NVENTOE- \A/ILFFED Q. 'BEHUCHQMP June 26, 1962 w. A. BEAUCHAMP 3,040,392

LATERALLY MOVABLE DOORS FOR RAILWAY FREIGHT CARS Filed May 28, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /NVENTO I?! \A/ILFEED 6'. EEGUCHGMP United States; Patent LATERALLY MOVABLE DOORS FOR RAILWAY FREIGHT CARS Wilfred A. Beauchamp, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Youngstown Steel Door Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 28, 1959, Ser. No. 816,520

12 Claims. (CI. 20-23) This invention relates to laterally movable doors for railway freight, cars and more particularly to means for imparting final lateral movement to such doors into their door openings. It is an object of this invention to provide laterally movable doors for railway freight cars so constructed as to embody hydraulic means for imparting final lateral movement of such doors into their door openmgs.

A further object is to provide laterally movable doors of the character indicated immediately above wherein the hydraulic means lies within and is protected by the doors.

A further object of this invention is to provide laterally movable doors for railway freight cars so constructed as to embody hydraulic means for imparting final lateral movement of such doors into their door openings wherein said means shall be of such design as to obviate the adjustments required by mechanisms heretofore employed for this purpose.

A further object is to provide. laterally movable doors for railway freight cars so constructed as to embody hydraulic means for imparting final lateral movement of such doors into their door openings which shall be of such design as to eliminate distortion of parts and improper functioning thereof occurring in mechanisms heretofore used for this purpose.

A further object is to provide laterally movable doors for railway freight cars so constructed as to embody hydraulic means for imparting final lateral movement of such doors into their door openings so constructed as to exercise better control of the pressure upon the gaskets carried by the doors and thereby minimize the set normally occurring in such gaskets.

A further object is to provide laterally movable doors for railway freight cars so constructed as to embody hydraulic means for imparting final lateral movement of such doors into their door openings and obtaining simplification of the mechanisms for moving the doors into and out of their door openings.

A further object is to provide laterally movable doors for railway freight cars so constructed as to embody hydraulic means for imparting final lateral movement of such doors into their door openings which shall also retain the doors in their door openings.

A further object is to provide laterally movable doors for railway freight cars so constructed as to embody hydraulic means for imparting final lateral movement of such doors into their door openings which means shall be simple and sturdy in construction, positive in its action, and function as well to lock the doors in closed position.

A further object is to provide laterally movable doors for railway freight cars so constructed as to embody hydraulic means for imparting final lateral movement of such doors into their door openings wherein said means shall embody an auxiliary fluid supply for maintaining the desired line pressure in the hydraulic means.

A further object is to provide laterally movable doors for railway freight cars so constructed as to embody hydraulic means for imparting final lateral movement of such doors into their door openings and means insuring retention of said door in their door openings in the event of loss of fluid pressure in said hydraulic means.

Other objects of theinvention will become clear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of a side wall of a refrigerator car equipped with a laterally movable door embodying the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is avertical section taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1. 1

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 66 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a vertical section taken on line 77 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section taken on line 99 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevation on an enlarged scale of a portion of the hydraulic mechanism of the instant invention.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevation on an enlarged scale of another portion of the hydraulic mechanism of the instant invention.

FIG. 12 is a vertical section taken'online 1212 0 FIG. 1.

In the drawings reference numeral 10- designates a portion of a side wall of a railway car which for purposes of illustration is in the form of a refrigerator car. The side 10 is provided with a door opening defined by means of front and rear Z-shaped door posts 11 and 12, the floor of the car 13 and a Z-shaped header 14 secured to and depending from the downwardly extending leg 15 of a side plate 16. The structure of the side wall '10 which defines the door opening is such as to receive a door 17 in flush relationship with the inside and outside of the side wall as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5.

A pair of vertically extending pipes 18 and 19 are rotatably mounted upon the outside of the door 17 by means of pairs of brackets 20, 21 and 22. Crank arms 23 and 24 are secured to the lower ends of the pipes 18 and 19. These crank arms carry spindles 25 and 26 rotatably mounted within the roller hangers 27 and 28 which are supported for longitudinal movement upon a track 29 secured by means of a plurality of brackets 30 to the side sill structure 31 of the. car. Crank arms 32. and 33 are secured to the upper ends of the pipes 18 and 19 and are provided with spindles 34 and 35 which carry rollers such as shown at 36. These rollers are'received within the doorretaining and guiding member 37 which is secured to the downwardly extending-leg 15 of the side plate 16.

By means of this construction the door 17 is retained upon the side wall '10 for longitudinal movement along the track and for lateral movement into and out of the door opening formed in the side wall. Inorder to impart initial movement of the door 17 into the door opening and final movement of the door out of the door opening levers 38 and 39 are employed. These levers are pivota-lly secured as indicated at 40 and 41 to clevises 42 and 43 secured upon the pipes :18 and 19. When by actuation of the levers 38 and 39 initial closing movement of the door has been obtained these levers are disposed within brackets 44 and 45. The inner faces of the brackets 44 and 4-5 are inclined inwardly and downwardly as shown at 46 and cooperate with similarly inclined faces of the levers 38 and 39 as shown at 47 to retain the levers in desired position. The initial inward movement of the door 17 is determined by contact between a rubber gasket 48 which is secured around the door and to the inner face of the door.

The door 17 embodies an outer metallic panel 49. This panel is reinforced by horizontal continuously extending and vertically spaced hat-shaped reinforcing members 50 and 51 disposed upon the inside of the panel adjacent to the lower and upper edges of the door. The metallic panel 49 is also reinforced by means of a channel-shaped member 52 which extends from the hat-shaped member 50 to the lower margin of the door and by a Z-shaped member 53 which extends from the lower reinforcing member 50 to the upper margin of the door. As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings the Z-shaped reinforcing member 53 is interrupted at the horizontal hat-shaped member 51 so that the latter, as well as the reinforcing member 50, can extend continuously across the panel. The Z-shaped reinforcing member is secured upon the inside of the panel 49.

A master hydraulic actuator 54 is secured within and protected by the lower hat-shaped reinforcing member 50 by means of an outer plate member 55 releasably secured to the reinforcing member preferably by means of set screws 56. The inner end of the actuator is closed by means of a cover plate 57 releasably secured thereto by means of set screws 58. The cover plate includes a member 59 which extends into the main cylinder 60 of the actuator and which serves as a mounting for a coiled spring 61. A piston 62 is slidably mounted within the main cylinder 60 and carries on the inside thereof a cup packing 63 formed of leather or the like. The coiled spring .61 is disposed to bear against the cover plate 57 and the cup packing 63.

The actuator 54 is also formed with oppositely extending horizontal cylinders 64 and. 65 which lie within and are protected by the hat-shaped reinforcement 50. The actuator 54 carries as well a vertically disposed cylinder '66 extending into and protected by the channel-shaped reinforcement 52. Communication between the main cylinder 54 and the cylinders 64, 65 and 66 is provided by means of ports 67, 68 and 69 through which a fluid such as oil may be forced from the main cylinder into the remaining cylinders. The cylinders 64 and 65 carry pistons 70 the ends of which lying adjacent to the main cylinder are sealed by means of cup packing members 71. The remote ends of the pistons 70 engage connecting bars 72 slidably supported within the reinforcing member 50 by means of plate members 73 and 74 which extend across and reinforce the box section resulting from the cooperation between the reinforcing member and the metallic panel of the door. The opposite ends of the connecting bars 72 abut against door closing and locking members 75 which are slidably mounted within housing members 76 secured to the front and rear margins of the metallic panel. The ends of the closing and locking members 75 against which the connecting bars 72 abut are provided with washers 77 of larger diameter than the closing and locking members and providing abutments for coiled springs 78 received between the washers and shoulders 79 provided on the housing members 76. The coiled springs 78 are mounted upon the closing and locking members 75. The outer ends of the closing and locking members carry roller 80.

The vertical cylinder 66 of the actuator 54 carries a piston 81 the end of which adjacent to the main cylinder is provided with a cup packing member 82-. The piston 81 abuts against a connecting bar 83 which is slidably supported by a plate member 84 extending across and reinforcing the box section formed by the reinforcing member 52 and the door panel. The connecting bar 83 abuts against a door closing and locking member 85 slidably received within a housing member 86 secured to the lower margin of the metallic panel. The end of the closing and looking member against which the connecting bar 83 abuts carries a washer 87 which provides an abutment for a coiled spring 88 mounted upon the closing and locking member. The other end of the coiled spring abuts against an internal shoulder 89 formed on the housing member 86. The outer end of the closing and locking member carries a roller 90.

An auxiliary hydraulic actuator 91 is disposed within and protected by the box section provided by the upper hat-shaped reinforcement member and the door panel. The actuator 91 is covered and secured in position by means of a cover plate 92 bolted to the actuator, the door panel and the Z-shaped reinforcing member 53.

The hydraulic actuator 91 is formed with oppositely extending horizontal cylinders 93 and 94 which lie within the box section mentioned immediately above. The cylinders 93 and 94 carry pistons 95 the adjacent ends of which are provided with cup packing members 96 engaged by the ends of a coiled spring S disposed within the actuator. The remote ends of the pistons 95 abut against connecting bars 97 which are slidably supported within the box section by means of reinforcing plates 98 and 99 which serve additionally to reinforce the box section. The connecting bars 97 abut against closing and locking members 100. The closing and looking members are slidably received within housing members -101 secured to the forward and rear margins of the door. Coiled springs 102 are mounted upon the closing and locking'members and are retained in position between washers 103 mounted upon the closing and locking members and internal shoulder 104 formed on the housing members 101. The ends of the closing and locking members carry rollers 105. I

The hydraulic actuators 54 and 91 are hydraulically connected by means of a tube 106 formed of copper or the like which communicates with the actuators. The tube 106 is disposed in proximate relationship to the Z-shaped reinforcing member 53 so as to be protected thereby. The oil in the hydraulic system above described is placed under pressure by the movement of the piston 62 into the main cylinder 60. To accomplish this movement of the piston 62 the actuator 54 carries, preferably as an integral part thereof, a sleeve 107 which extends outwardly of the metallic panel. The outer end of the sleeve 107 is closed by means of a member 108 formed with a hollow boss 109. A portion 110 of the hollow boss projected into the sleeve 107 and is internally threaded to receive the externally threaded portion 111 of a shaft 112. A double-handed lever 113 is mounted upon the outer unthreaded end of the shaft 112 in order to impart rotation to the shaft and to advance or withdraw the latter along the boss. The inner end of the shaft bears against the piston 62 and serves upon rotation of the lever 113 in clockwise direction to force the piston and the cup packing 63 into the main cylinder 60 and thereby to produce pressure in the oil of the hydraulic system. When the lever 113 is rotated in counter-clockwise direction the shaft 112 moves outwardly along the boss and the spring 61 becomes effective to force the piston 62 and cup packing 63 outwardly so as to relieve the pressure in the oil of the hydraulic system.

To close the door 17 it is moved along the track 29 until it overlies the door opening in the side wall 10. The levers 38 and 39 which at this time hang vertically are swung upwardly about their pivots 40 and 41 and toward each other thereby imparting rotation to the pipes 18 and 19. This rotation causes inward movement of the door into the door opening until contact occurs between the rubber gasket 48 and the front and rear door posts 11 and 12, the header 14 and the threshold plate T. The levers 38 and 39 are then dropped into the brackets 44 and 45 establishing engagement between the inclined faces 46 and 47 of the brackets and the levers. This completes the initial lateral movement of the door into the door opening.

Thereafter the lever 113 is rotated in clockwise direction so as to advance the shaft 112 toward the door. This movement of the shaft forces the piston 62 with its cup packing 63 into the main cylinder 60 thereby forcing oil from the cylinder under pressure through the ports 67, 68 and 69 and through the oil line 106 into the cylinders 64, 65 and 66 and the cylinders 93 and 94. Pressure is thereby created against the several pistons carried by these cylinders and through these pistons and the connecting rods which they engage, pressure is applied to the closing and locking members 75, 85 and 100 thereby forcing the closing and locking members outwardly beyond the edges of the door and compressing the coiled springs 78, 88 and 102. The door closing and locking members 75 and 100 are projected through openings 114 and 115 formed in the front and rear door posts 11 and 12 and into engagement with keepers 116 and 117 which are secured to the door posts around the openings formed therein. This engagement occurs between the rollers 80 and 105 carried by these closing and locking members and inwardly inclined flanges 118 and 119 formed on the keepers. Engagement between the rollers and the in clined flanges forces the door inwardly so as to complete the final lateral movement of the door into the door opening and locks the door in closed position. Rotation of the lever 113 in counter-clockwise direction is then prevented by means of a latch 120 pivotally mounted upon the plate member 55 as indicated at 121. The latch 120 is provided with a seal slot 122 which is alined with a seal slot 123 formed in each handle of the lever #113 for the reception of a seal (not shown).

The hydraulic pressure referred to above, acting through the piston 81, connecting bar 83 and the closing and locking member 85 forces the roller 96* of the closing and locking member into engagement with a downwardly and inwardly sloping flange 124 of a casting 125 secured to the side sill structure 31. This engagement between the roller 90 and the inclined flange 124 forces the lower portion of the door laterally into closed position and locks the door in this position.

During the final lateral movement of the door into closed position rotation of the pipes 18 and 19 occurs. This rotation of the pipes swings levers 38 and 39 to ward the door producing a momentary separation between them and the inclined face 46 of the brackets 44 and 45. However, as the levers fall by gravity upon their release from the brackets, re-engagement between the inclined faces of the brackets and the levers occurs. As a result of this should the pressure in the hydraulic system be reduced so that the coiled springs 78, 88 and 102 retract the closing and locking members from their locking engagement with their respective keepers the reestablished engagement between the levers 38 and 39 and the brackets 44 and 45 will prevent lateral movement of the door out of the door opening.

To open the door the seal (not shown) is removed and the latch 120 swung toward the door and out of engagement with the lever 113. The lever 113 is then rotated counter-clockwise so as to withdraw the shaft 112 and permit the spring 61 mounted upon the projection 59.

of the cover plate 57 to force the cup packing and piston 62 outwardly. The movement of the packing and the piston uncovers the ports connecting the main cylinder 60 with the auxiliary cylinders and the pipe line 106. The pressure of the hydraulic system is thereby relieved and the coiled springs become eflective to retract the closing and locking members from their keepers. The spring which engages the cup packings of the pistons 95 are not sufiicient to prevent this action of the coiled springs 102. Thereupon the levers 38 and 39 are removed from the brackets 44 and 45 and swung away from each other to complete the lateral movement of the door out of the door opening. The door may be moved longitudinally of the car along the track to open position.

It will be observed from the foregoing explanation of the operation of the door that the pipes are relieved of pressures tending to distort them or place them under torsion inasmuch as the final lateral movement of the door into the door opening is obtained independently of the pipes.

In order to insure a full oil supply in the hydraulic system the instant invention provides an oil reservoir 126 which is mounted upon the door panel above the actuator 91. The reservoir 126 communicates with the actuator '91 through an orifice 127 formed in the bottom of the reservoir and a coupling 128 threaded into the bottom of the reservoir and into the top of the actuator 91. A feed valve 129 is disposed between the orifice 127 and the top of the coupling member 128. The feed valve 129 is provided with openings 130 and 131 which lie on opposite sides of the orifice 127. The upper end of the reservoir is closed by means of a cover plate 132. The front Wall 133 of the reservoir is provided with a downwardly inclined opening 134 adapted to be closed by a set screw 135. The reservoir can be refilled through the opening 134.

When the oil system is not under pressure the feed valve 5 is spaced from the bottom of the reservoir and the orifice formed therein so that oil from the reservoir may flow through this orifice, the openings in the feed valve, and the coupling into the hydraulic system. When this system in under pressure, however the oil therein is forced upwardly through the coupling 1128 against the feed valve thereby forcing it tightly against the bottom of the reservoir and preventing the oil in the pipe line from being forced into the reservoir. A satisfactory supply of oil in the hydraulic system is thereby insured.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes be comprehended Within this invention which is to be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A laterally movable door for railway freight cars comprising an outer metallic panel, means on the outside of said panel embodying rotatably mounted bars for imparting initial closing and final opening movements to said door, means on the inside of said panel for imparting final closing and locking movement to said door, said latter means including a hydraulic actuator, a closing and locking member and means operatively connecting said actuator and said closing and locking member, and means upon the outside of said door for manually operating said hydraulic actuator.

2. A laterally movable door for railway freight oars comprising an outer metallic panel, a substantially channel-shaped member secured to the inside of said panel and forming a box section therewith, means on the outside of said panel embodying rotatably mounted bars for imparting initial closing and final opening movements to said door, means enshrouded by said box section for imparting final closing and locking movement to said door, said latter means including a hydraulic actuator, a closing and locking member and means operatively connecting said actuator and said closing andlocking member, and means upon the outside of said-door for manually operating said hydraulic actuator.

3. A laterally movable door for railway freight cars comprising an outer metallic panel, a substantially channel-shaped member secured to the inside of said panel and forming a box section therewith, reinforcing members extending across and secured to said box section, means on the outside of said panel embodying rotatably mounted bars for imparting initial closing and final opening movements to said door, means enshrouded by said box section for imparting final closing and locking movement to said door, said latter means including a hydraulic actuator, a closing and locking member and a bar operatively connecting said actuator and closing and locking member,

said bar extending through said reinforcing members and being supported and guided thereby, and means upon the outside of said panel for manually operating said hydraulic actuator.

4. A laterally movable door for railway freight cars bomprisingan outer metallic panel, a substantially channcl-shaped member secured to the inside of said panel and forming a box section therewith, reinforcing members extending across and secured to said box section, means on the outside of said panel embodying rotatably mounted bars for imparting initial closing and final opening movements to said door, means enshrouded by said box section for imparting final closing movement to said door and for locking said door, said latter means including a hydraulic actuator, a housing member secured to said panel adjacent to a vertical edge thereof, a plunger slidably mounted in said housing member, a spring for said plunger bearing against said housing member and said plunger, a bar operatively connecting said actuator and said plunger, said bar extending through said reinforcing members and being slidably supported thereby, and means upon the outside of said door for operating said actuator to project said plunger beyond said edge and compress said spring.

5. A laterally movable door for railway freight cars comprising an outer metallic panel, means on the outside of said panel embodying rotatably mounted bars for imparting initial closing and final opening movement to said door, means on the inside of said panel for imparting final closing movement to said door and for locking said door, said latter means including a hydraulic actuator, a closing and locking member and means operatively connecting said actuator and said closing and looking member, and means upon the outside of said door for operating said hydraulic actuator, said means for imparting initial closing and final opening movement to said door being independent structurally and operationally of said means for imparting final closing movement to said door and for locking said door, said first mentioned means having levers pivotally connected to said bars, and brackets secured to said panel for receiving said levers when said door is closed and locked.

6. The combination as defined in claim wherein said brackets and said levers have downwardly and inwardly inclined engaging faces,

7. In a railway freight car having a door opening, a laterally movable door adapted to be seated in the door opening for closing the same, said door comprising an outer metallic panel, means on the outside of said door embodying rotatably mounted bars for imparting initial closing and final opening movements to said door, means on the inside of said door for imparting final closing movement thereto and for locking said door, said latter means including a hydraulic actuator, a housing member mounted on said door adjacent to an edge thereof, a plunger slidably mounted in said housing member, a spring for said plunger bearing against said housing member and said plunger, a bar operatively connecting said actuator and said plunger, means on said door slidably supporting said bar, means upon the outside of said door for operating said actuator to project said plunger beyond said edge of said door and compress said spring, and a keeper secured to said car adjacent to the door opening, said keeper having a portion inclined inwardly of said car and away from the door opening, said plunger engaging said inclined portion of said keeper when said plunger is projected beyond said edge of said door for imparting final closing movement thereto and for locking said door.

8. The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein said plunger carries a roller which engages said inclined portion of said keeper for the purpose set forth.

9. In a railway freight car having a door opening, a laterally movable door adapted to be seated in the door opening for closing the same, said door comprising an outer metallic panel, means on the outside of said door embodying rotatably mounted bars for imparting initial closing and final opening movements to said door, means on the inside of said door for imparting final closing movement thereto and for locking said door, said latter means including a hydraulic actuator, a housing member mounted on said door adjacent to an edge thereof, a

plunger slidably mounted in said housing member, a spring for said plunger bearing against said housing member and said plunger, a bar operatively connecting said actuator and said plunger, means on said door slidably supporting said bar, means upon the outside of said door for operating said actuator to project said plunger beyond said edge of said door and compress said spring, and a keeper secured to said car adjacent to the door opening, said keeper having a portion inclined inwardly of said car and away from the door opening, said plunger engaging said inclined portion of said keeper when said plunger is projected beyond said edge of said door for imparting final closing movement thereto and for locking said door, said means for imparting initial closing and final opening movements to said door being independent structurally and operationally of said means for imparting final closing movement to said door and for locking said door, said first mentioned means having levers pivotally connected to said bars, and brackets secured to said panel for receiving said levers when said door is closed and locked.

10. The combination as defined in claim 9 wherein said brackets and said levers have downwardly and inwardly inclined engaging faces.

11. A laterally movable door for railway freight cars comprising an outer metallic panel, means on the outside of said panel embodying rotatably mounted bars for imparting initial closing and final opening movements to said door, means on the inside of said panel secured to the lower portion thereof for imparting final closing movement to said door and for locking said door, means on the inside of said panel secured to the upper portion thereof for imparting final closing movement to said door and for locking said door, each of said two latter means including a hydraulic actuator, closing and look ing members mounted adjacent to the vertical edges of said door for sliding movement in opposite directions and means operatively connecting said closing and locking members and said actuator, means on the outside of said door for operating the lower of said actuators and a hydraulic line on the inside of said door providing fluid communication between said hydraulic actuators.

12. A laterally movable door for railway freight cars comprising an outer metallic panel, means on the outside of said panel embodying rotatably mounted bars for imparting initial closing and final opening movements to said door, means on the inside of said panel secured to the lower portion thereof for imparting final closing movement to said door and for locking said door, means on the inside of said panel secured to the upper portion thereof for imparting final closing movement to said door and for locking said door, each of said two latter means including a hydraulic actuator, closing and locking members mounted adjacent to the vertical edges of said door for sliding movement in opposite directions and means operatively connecting said closing and locking members and said actuator, means on the outside of said door for operating the lower of said actuators, a hydraulic line on the inside of said door providing fluid communication between said hydraulic actuators, a fluid reservoir secured on the inside of said panel above said upper actuator, means providing fluid communication between said reservoir and upper actuator and a feed valve between said reservoir and said latter means.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Beauchamp May 13, 1958 

